EAST HAMPTON CONTROVERSY: Referendum on chief set for Nov. 2

The Town Council Tuesday evening set in place the process for residents to vote whether or not to bring back Police Chief Matthew A. Reimondo.

The council voted to send the issue to a referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 2 - Election Day. A petition drive had succeeded in forcing the issue to a vote.

Residents will vote in a separate location - the high school cafeteria - and on a separate ballot to decide whether or not to end the four months of often-passionate debate about Reimondo's future.

Reimondo, the town's police chief for the past dozen years, was ousted from his position on June 22 by then-Town Manager Jeffrey J. O'Keefe in what O'Keefe said was cost-cutting measure.

That issue, however, fell by the wayside after the council acted last month to abolish the town ordinance that requires the town have a police chief.

It is that question that residents will actually vote on during the referendum which will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. - the same hours as voting for the whole roster of state officials and an open US Senate seat.

The language of the question residents will vote on reads: "Shall the town of East Hampton approve the amendments to Chapter 109 of the Town Ordinances which would abolish the position of Chief of Police and restructure the police department?"

Bill Marshall, who organized the petition drive that forced the referendum, explained Tuesday evening that a "no" vote is a vote to bring back Reimondo.

Acting Town Manager Robert G. Drewry told the council residents will vote in the high school gymnasium for governor and senator, and then pass through directly into the cafeteria where they will vote on a separate ballot on the question of Reimondo's future.

"We've got the cafeteria so we can exit directly from the gym into the cafeteria," Drewry told the councilors.

"There's going to have to be some pretty good signage," Council Chairwoman Melissa H. Engel observed.

"There will be checkers in both locations," Drewry added.

Residents will receive the ballot for the election in the gymnasium and then the ballot on the chief's future as they enter the cafeteria, Drewry said.

"We thought it would be too confusing for people if they were handed two different ballots when they entered the gym," he said.

Mary Ann Dostaler, who has been a prominent voice in opposing the chief's removal, cautioned residents that they will need to be patient as they go through the two-step process.

Immediately after the meeting adjourned, Drewry met with Town Clerk Sandra Wieleba to set in motion the process to get absentee ballots printed up for the vote on Reimondo.

Wieleba said she hopes to have the absentee ballots in hand by Friday.

The council acted quickly and efficiently Tuesday during a brisk meeting that was free of the drama and emotion that has marked so many previous meetings on the issue of the chief's fate.